North Pacific stuns rivals in brilliant G3 Randwick win

Top-priced son of Brazen Beau runs into G1 Golden Rose favouritism

Brilliant colt North Pacific staked his claim as the best son of Brazen Beau so far seen on a racetrack when he cruised to a stunning victory in Saturday’s G3 Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick.

A colt who topped the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale when he sold for $800,000, North Pacific became his sire’s ninth Stakes winner, taking his record to two wins from his only three starts.

Ridden conservatively from the gates, North Pacific settled off the pace on the heavy track, working into the race coming to the turn where jockey James McDonald still had him on a tight rein.

Given his head soon after passing the 300m, North Pacific made light work of his opposition, powering to the lead and then keeping up a strong gallop to go to the line four lengths clear of Bazooka with Marsannay in third place.

North Pacific is from the O’Reilly mare Up In Lights whose family boasts the three-time G1 winner Metal Bender and the G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Keeper.

Bred by Mr David Gillies, Up In Lights returned to Brazen Beau last season and is due to foal down.

Brazen Beau ended the latest southern-hemisphere season as Australia’s leading second-season sire by Stakes winners and will stand the 2020 breeding season beginning next month at Northwood Park, Victoria, at a service fee of $49,500, including GST.